His part-time commitment has given Rovanperä the opportunity to test his skills in other disciplines, and he has immediately shown his talent outside of rallying.
This season, Rovanperä participated in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux series, where he won three out of eight races. The Finn finished within the top six in every race he competed in, including one third-place and one second-place finish. Rovanperä demonstrated his capability for success in circuit racing as well.
Toni Vilander, a Finnish driver with a career in GT racing, expressed his admiration for Rovanperä’s skills. Vilander, who has competed in events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, praised Rovanperä in an interview with Ilta-Sanomat.
“Kalle is quite a special talent,” Vilander said.
“This brings an incredible car control ability. He’s wanted to try different forms of racing. It seems that tarmac, which hasn’t traditionally been a strong suit for Finnish rally drivers, is something he’s quite interested in,” Vilander continued.
Vilander also commended Rovanperä’s courage, noting that it’s not easy to step into a completely different field of motorsport.
“Somehow, in motorsport too, there’s this ingrained mindset that you can’t cross disciplines. You’re expected to stay in your own field, and there’s this thought of ‘what if I go there and lose?’ If you’re a world champion in rallying or Formula 1, you’re not expected to compete elsewhere. There’s always concern about public perception and how others view it,” Vilander remarked.
Next season, Rovanperä will return to a full WRC schedule. However, his exceptional talent has sparked discussions about his future during this part-time season. At just 24 years old, Rovanperä is unlikely to spend his entire career solely in rallying. He has openly admitted an interest in circuit racing, with Formula 1 being an intriguing possibility.
Vilander emphasised in the Ilta-Sanomat article that Rovanperä has “the potential for anything” in circuit racing, though a leap into Formula 1 would be a huge undertaking.
“I’m not saying it would be impossible, but it would be a challenging and difficult project. The competition is so intense, the stakes are so high financially, and the level of experience required is significant,” Vilander explained.
However, Vilander believes it is entirely possible that Rovanperä might at least get the chance to try out an F1 car at some point.
